How To Shop For A Handyman

Are You Considering Hiring A Handyman?

There are many people who have hired a handyman much to their satisfaction.  Others however, who shop for a handyman have been left dissatisfied because they believe the service wasn’t what they expected.  To avoid disappointment it is important to have realistic expectations of what to expect from your handyman.  By definition a handyman is someone who can do occasional repairs, odd jobs or minor renovations.  It is therefore important for you to have realistic expectations before you decide a handyman is right for you.  If you are seeking someone to do extensive job requirements involving a highly skilled renovation you may want to limit your expectations.

Reasonable Jobs To Expect From Your Handyman

Your contractor is capable of doing a wide range of repairs and can often be referred to as a jack of all trades.  S/he can do a little of this or a little of that.  They can hang a light or repair a hole in the drywall.  Your contractor can also repair your fence or move your dirt.  You could also hire your hired-hand to do general labour like disposing of junk.

You may hire a handyman to paint a room or install a tap or a toilet.  Your expectations for your handyman should not be extensive work.  It is not wise nor is it reasonable to hire a handyman to rewire your house or replace all the plumbing or move and install your duct work.

Simply put, electrical or extensive plumbing or duct work or installing drywall requires a permit. Therefore if you are going to hire someone to do work that requires a permit you should then look for a contractor who is licensed.

Is A Handyman Licensed?

Not usually.  Due to the fact the scope of work generally focuses on odd jobs, side work or repairs both interior and exterior, it is unlikely a handyman will find him or herself doing work that requires a license.  Depending on where your located, rarely do regional governments require a licensed contractor for small repair work.

How Much Does A Handyman Charge?

A contractor can charge by the job or by the hour.  Although it wouldn’t be reasonable to tell you how much a job would cost as we can’t see the complexity or scale of the job, it is reasonable to charge anywhere from $60 to $75 per hour which may vary depending on the job.

Who Do I Hire?

Not necessarily the first handyman you meet.  That isn’t to suggest he or she isn’t an excellent candidate but you should always ask for referrals.

You should also interview at least 3 different handymen or handywomen.

Always remember :”if the price is too good to be true it generally often is”.

How many times do you hear of someone who was “ripped off because the contractor ran off and took their money and never finished the job”?  Do you think it was really the fault of the contractor?

If you ask the homeowner what they paid, 9 times out of 10 the estimate from this shoddy handyman/contractor was ridiculously lower than any of the other estimates they received.  So is it solely the fault of this contractor?  Yes maybe the contractor was dishonest, or maybe handyman was naively ignorant and out of his or her depth.  The contractor lacked the experience to quote realistically on the job and honestly believed due to their lack of experience they could complete the job for what they originally charged.

Who’s fault it is in transactions such as this are hotly debated depending on which side of the fence you’re sitting.

Was the homeowner a victim? You decide.

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